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We are one the eve of one of the busiest times of the year. From the fast approaching trick-or-treaters that will soon come to call, to Thanksgivng and Christmas all the way through New Year, most homes will feel like a revolving door of friends and family the next few months. With this in mind, we are poised to make sure our homes are clean, welcoming and looking their best. Making sure your existing landscape and outdoor lighting is operating in top form will create a positive first impression as guests come to call.

With the days getting shorter and nightfall making an earlier entrance, it is also important to make sure your outdoor areas are well-lit so your outdoor enjoyment can continue well into the evening. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte can tackle the job of maintaining your existing system, adding to it or installing a brand new lighting system for you from scratch. We can put you on the schedule right now for an autumn inspection so you are ready to enjoy the season and busy holiday season ahead.

If you have an existing outdoor lighting system we will inspect it to assure your system is working properly and that any burnt out bulbs are replaced. This is also a great time to consider converting an old-school halogen system to an all LED outdoor lighting system since the bulbs last way longer and consume less electricity. We come in and check all your wiring and make sure it’s all intact and we re-bury any wire that has made its way to the surface due to any landscape activity or inclement weather too. We also carefully inspect all your fixtures to make sure they are in good shape, aligned properly, and free of dirt or spider webs, and we will trim any plant overgrowth blocking your beam of light. We also check your transformer to ensure that it is carrying the load of wattage properly and that your timer is functioning as it should.

The fall is also a good time to decide if you wish to add additional lighting to enhance your system or perhaps you feel that an upgrade is in order. We can give your property a whole new look in terms of ambience and mood if you are ready for a change of how your home and property are currently illuminated. We can add lighting to the areas where family and friends primarily congregate in your backyard and make sure that those spots are lit up so they not only look beautiful, but that they are safer as to avoid slip and falls. Lighting steps and entrances into a patio or deck, for example, is a great candidate for additional light so that you and your guests can easily navigate. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte will ensure your pathways from your driveway to your yard are visible enough to navigate safely — and to avoid coming home to a dark home night after night.

The addition on outdoor lighting provides an endless plethora of benefits to homeowners.These benefits encompass enhancing the beauty and curb appeal of your home and landscape while in turn, making it safer and more secure. But, did you ever think about the ways outdoor lighting enhances the time our furry friends spend outdoors too? For most of us, our dog is considered a member of the family– not just man’s best friend, but everyone’s best friend — with the attachment and bond we have with our pets in mind, it’s a no-brainer that outdoor lighting can enhance the time you and your pet spend together. Especially making those evening trips outdoors safer and more enjoyable for both you and your pet.

If you are a dog owner there is no escaping the inevitable need for evening walks and backyard turnouts. For some pet parents, taking a stroll after dark seems easy, but if you live in a secluded area with limited lighting or vice-versa with lots of traffic, this may be a source of trepidation.

For homeowners who have a fenced backyard, or designated area within the landscape to turn their dog out into instead of walking their dog, a dark backyard can be a source for concern for the safety of your pet. This can be even more of a concern in rural areas in around the Charlotte region such as Union and Cabarrus Counties where wildlife may frequent your property. The addition of outdoor lighting such as path, sidewalk and landscape lighting can aid in making evening visits outdoors more enjoyable and safer for both you and your pet. Outdoor lighting will allow you to return from evening walks into a well-lit environment allowing for relaxed, safer entry back into the home. For pets that have specified areas within your landscape, outdoor lighting will make the time they spend outdoors in the evening safer because of the extended visibility it offers both you and your pet, also giving you peace of mind.

Ken Brantley, Owner Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte.

Contact Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte today to learn more about all the ways the addition of our pet-friendly outdoor lighting can enhance the lifestyle of your entire family (including your four-legged family members), and increase the enjoyment and safety of the time spent outdoors. You can reach us at at 704-849-8808 or email us at charlotte.outdoorlights.com.

Those of us at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte aren’t surprised by the recent survey conducted by Houzz that point out automated outdoor lighting is all the rage among homeowners. The article also indicates upgrades in exterior lighting that convert them from outdated traditional halogens to energy-saving LED’s rose to 32% of homes compared to 28% last year. We know this is unequivocally true because we are doing a HUGE amount of new LED installs and retro-fits to existing halogen systems.

Houzz found that homeowners are very interested in lighting key areas that primarily add not only beauty, but also add a safety factor to their properties, too. They study showed that target areas families most want to illuminate are:

Pathways — 60%

Decks/Patios — 57%

Trees/Shrubs — 53%

Steps — 32%

Home Architecture — 28%

Driveway — 26%

Water Features — 24%

Outdoor Structures — 24%

Pots/Plants — 21%

Swimming Pool — 10%

Art/Sculpture — 9%

Clearly, areas that families most utilize are what are important to them, and decks/patios are one of the most extensively used areas in most backyards in America thanks to barbeques, dining, relaxing and outdoor entertaining. Houzz also found that more than half of homeowners prefer to use the expertise of a lighting designer when it comes to the layout of their landscape system. There is no comparison to the quality of our USA made fixtures in contrast to what is sold at the big box home improvement stores. Our high-grade, all-metal fixtures are designed to last for years regardless of sun, rain, ice and snow; and we use the thickest gauge wire available on the market today. Our competitors use cheap materials that break down after only a few seasons and do not back their products.

We listen to how your family lives outdoors and we cater your lighting plan specifically to the areas where you precisely want to add more light. We know your paths and walkways are zones that help you travel from part of your garden to another, so getting you around your property safely is a must. We will ensure your deck/patio not only looks fabulous in the evening hours, but provides plenty of usability for grilling, parties and just hanging out enjoying nature with the kids. Steps are a significant area that worries many homeowners because they don’t want their visitors to trip and fall, so we can ensure good lighting gives your guests sure-footing.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte is supporting National Garden Month by helping Charlotteans light up their evening landscape that they are busy working on this spring season. With the fabulous weather we’ve been having, homeowners are outdoors in their gardens planting new shrubs and flowers, getting their veggie plants in the ground, cleaning out their pools and prepping for warm weather entertaining with family and friends.

Once you’ve got your front and back yard spruced up and just how you want it, be sure to cap it off with custom landscape lighting that shows off all your hard work. There is no reason why all your beautiful trees, upgrades and hardscape should disappear into the blackness of night. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte will design an illumination scheme that casts a moonlight glow on your garden beds, stonework, pathways and your home’s frontage. We can highlight any special feature that you are looking to stand out in your landscape such as an ornamental tree, water feature or even a piece of garden art or sculpture. You can enjoy your backyard at virtually any hour of the day or night thanks to professionally installed outdoor lighting.

Landscape lighting offers additional benefits our customers rarely think about when setting up an appointment with us. Sure the gorgeous evening glow is what delights our clients most, but you get the bonus of increased safety, security and convenience, too! Ward off potential trips and falls from guests with good lighting where everyone can walk around with good visibility. Sure footing thanks to proper illuminations makes it easy to get around, go up and down stairs and get the car safely onto the driveway without running over garden beds or the lawn. You can see who is by the pool and in the water, your visitors can get to your front door with ease, and your lit pathways can guide your guests from one end of your property to the other easily.

Security is another key outdoor lighting advantage, since burglars usually try to avoid well-lit homes that look occupied. We will look at your property in the evening to consider areas that are poorly illuminated and are potentially good targets for a thief, and we will add targeted light that will send them elsewhere. We install timers that turn your lights on and off at random times so it looks lived in, even if it’s a summer or vacation home.

The convenience factor of being able to hang out with friends and family well into the evening is another big plus that custom landscape light brings about. We can set up task lighting so you can grill and work at your outdoor kitchen with ease, you can have dinner, the kids can play on their swing set, and guests can swim in the pool all night long. The entertaining can go on as long as you like thanks to good outdoor lighting that keeps the party rolling. Everyone will feel comfortable because it’s easy to see and it looks gorgeous outside to boot.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte had the recent pleasure of teaming up with the Solow Design Group on a terrific landscape project in the Elizabeth Neighborhood of Charlotte, NC, which was recently profiled in North Carolina Design. We love to work with companies like Solow because much like us, they are eager to delight and enthrall their clients by providing top-notch customer service wrapped around expert design and installation. We are simpatico in that we listen very carefully to what the homeowner wants and we execute on their dreams so that all their wants are met and their expectations are exceeded.

After Ric Solow’s team worked their magic by entirely revamping the landscaping and hardscapes on the property, we moved in to add the final glitter and evening sparkle to their work. We worked hand-in-hand with them from the beginning of the project so we knew ahead of time where wires, fixtures and other facets would be based on their selection of trees, shrubs and other decorative features. If you are planning an update of your landscape on a small or large-scale, make sure to include your lighting architect into the plans early on as it can be a big cost saver and minimize disruption not having to dig up the property after the yard has been completed.

With Solow’s spectacular stonework and fauna in place, we were challenged to bring in fixtures that would wash the property in luxurious lighting that was complimentary to the hardscape. Pathways were beautifully lit with natural appeal that is both sculptural and artistic, but also provides plenty of practical visibility in a very elegant way. The architectural elements pop in a stylish and graceful manner without appearing intentional, but rather seem to be bathed in soft moonlight. Of course, it takes a lot of design skill to use fool-the-eye effects and techniques that create subtleties in illumination. Whether to up light or down light is both an art and a science that our lighting designers have mastered through their education and hands-on expertise at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte, and it’s exactly why landscape and home architects call us to partner with them. They know we are going to cast their work in the very best light to wow the customer.

Ken is passionate about the transformative effect of outdoor lighting. “It’s the difference between a cold, dark building and a warm, inviting respite from the outside world,” he reflects. “Our clients have told us how much they enjoy pulling up in their driveway after a long day and seeing the lights of home. They’ve also said that a lighted landscape is the kind of thing you didn’t think you needed, but once you have it, you wonder how you ever lived without it.”

We look to light up the evening in a very subtle way that beckons the eye to wander around the space. There is nothing harsh or fixtures that are lined up predictable ways as if you are on an airplane runway. We go for the unpredictable and exciting in a warm and inviting way that makes you wonder what is around the corner. We aim for restrained, ethereal and elegant so that the home and property are washed in a soft glow and to complement the materials and design plan the landscape architects put in place.

Our latest project, located in the Elizabeth area of Charlotte entailed the illumination of the custom landscape design created by Solow Design Group. As always, it is a pleasure to work with a firm with such an incredible reputation in the exterior design industry. To fully complement the renovated landscape of this vintage 1930’s home, we custom designed and installed an outdoor lighting system that transformed the entire perimeter of the property.

In the early 1900s homes typically maintained simple landscape designs consisting of foundation plantings, clipped boxwood and hedge-lined walkways from the street to the front door. It wasn’t until the 1930s that Thomas Church began a movement in residential landscaping that created outdoor spaces as extensions of indoor living spaces, called garden rooms. Following his garden style, hardscapes were brought to the home landscape, with the addition of patios off of back doors and liberal use of plants in natural forms to soften the overall effect.

Outdoor rooms extend the home living area. It’s evident in these amazing photos, that Solow Design Group successfully created a garden room complete with sitting areas and walkways that preserve the vintage charm of this property. This in turn provided us with the perfect “canvas” upon which we rendered a complete lighting system to enhance and extend the homeowner’s enjoyment of their newly designed landscape area well into the hours after the sun goes down.

The entire perimeter of this beautiful property has been transformed. Low-growing shrubs and raised beds of perennials around the outside edges of the outdoor patio provide natural beauty and stabilize the patio and walkway flagstones. Notice the curves that were incorporated into the hardscape design which soften the effect and add visual interest throughout the landscape design.

Amongst the natural areas of foliage and rock created by Solow Design Group, we had a mix of new fixtures and design additions of high quality LED. In addition we converted the homeowner’s existing line voltage to super-efficient LED and converted many of the handmade specialty fixtures the homeowner had picked out for her design, which are quite whimsical and converted those to LED as well for continuity of the lighting design.

The benefits of converting an existing system to LED lighting include:

a more clean, natural and beautiful illumination

an electric bill which will cost substantially less each month

longer bulb life with less frequent replacement

less of a carbon footprint on the environment

UV free bulbs which are less prone to attracting insects and they are more durable and resilient than ordinary lighting systems

No matter the architectural style of your home or whether you need a single bulb area illuminated or you are looking for a comprehensive lighting system for all of your home and surrounding property, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte is your first choice. A custom created outdoor lighting design can be an integral part of your outdoor living space and landscape…adding just the right touch to your property. Extend your outdoor living to the hours after the sun goes down, whether it is for entertaining or just relaxing in the evening with loved ones.

Ken Brantly, Owner Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte.

For over 15 years Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte has been the area’s choice for upscale outdoor lighting. As a full-service outdoor lighting company, we do one thing — outdoor lighting — with perfect placement of energy-efficient, handcrafted copper and brass outdoor lighting fixtures and a passion for timeless style. When you see how our professional lighting transforms your home, you’ll agree that our designs do more than illuminate…they captivate. Contact us today to learn more at (704) 849-8808 or via email at charlotte.outdoorlights.com

This week we wanted to share our completed project featured in our original story titled “Artistry through lighting is what our most recent installation is all about!” For this installation we paired our traditional high-quality LED fixtures with decorative lights made by Attraction Lights and available through Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte. The use of these lights draws the eye to the artistry of the fixture and the haunting shadows they cast.

In this video clip, Larry Spada, who is the creative director and brand strategist with Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Richmond, VA, and resident of Charlotte NC, highlights the completed project in the evening.

This installation consisted of replacing two of Larry’s existing fixtures with decorative Attraction lights at well-appointed locations to enhance the front of the property. The project also included the installation of three (3) Boca lights to help illuminate and showcase the planted areas around the front perimeter of the home and along the driveway to enliven the beautiful, mature crepe myrtle tree that is in now in bloom!

Making sure the Queen City’s homes and their surrounding properties are always shown in their best light is what Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte has been doing for more than 17 years. During that time we’ve seen some fantastic changes in this industry. In the early part of our business, traditional halogen systems were considered cutting edge, but as time has passed and technological advancements have been made, LED systems have taken that leading spot.

LED bulbs last much longer and are more energy efficient

We keep up with these advancements so we can keep our customers informed and up to date with lighting options which have less energy consumption, less bulb replacement, and less negative impact on the environment…all of which are positive savings for you, our client. Obviously, when it comes to LED lighting less is always more.

Lighting the way to a greener future, these innovative illuminators use 75 percent less energy, last 25 times longer than incandescent light bulbs, and do both at a cooler temperature. In the energy industry, as well as for homeowners, the combination of these impressive features into a single bulb along with the new warm and inviting sunlight-like color rendering capabilities make LEDs a homerun, especially when compared to halogen or incandescent bulbs.

If you currently have a traditional lighting system, either because you chose not to go with LED at your initial installation or it was purchased at a time when LED outdoor lighting was not as accessible, learning this information may have you thinking, “I really wish I would’ve chosen an LED system.” Well we have good news–all is not lost. Converting your existing halogen or incandescent outdoor lighting system to LED is a viable option for many homeowners and well within reach.

It starts with a full system inspection to see if LED conversion is possible. Most traditional outdoor lighting systems such as halogen can easily be converted to LED, especially if they are less than 12 years old. In addition, a well-maintained system stands a greater chance at being a suitable candidate for LED conversion and in most cases, the conversion consists of only a lighting implement (or bulb) conversion.

In the event that your existing system is older, we can provide an LED equivalent to any fixtures that do not meet criteria for conversion through bulb implementation due to their age or qualifications. Our outdoor lighting professional can inspect your existing system and determine if your system is a candidate for conversion. We can usually retro-fit about 95% of our lighting and a lot of our competitors’ systems too. Once your system is deemed fit to undergo the conversion, you can start enjoying the many benefits of LED outdoor lighting.

The benefits of converting your current system to LED lighting include:

a more clean, natural and beautiful illumination

an electric bill which will cost substantially less each month

longer bulb life with less frequent replacement

less of a carbon footprint on the environment

UV free bulbs which are less prone to attracting insects and they are more durable and resilient than ordinary lighting systems

Ken Brantly, Owner Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte.

You may think your existing system provides satisfactory lighting but considering that your outdoor lighting system brings the exterior of your home and its surroundings to life at night, shouldn’t it be the most beautiful and cost effective illumination available? If you are ready to make the change to an LED conversion Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte is the area’s choice for upscale outdoor lighting, including the latest in LED technology and we believe in giving our clients more. We can take care of all your outdoor lighting needs including design, upgrades, installation and maintenance of your lights. From start to finish, LED, holiday and special event lighting, we are the outdoor lighting company you keep. Contact us today to learn more at (704) 849-8808 or email us at charlotte.outdoorlights.com.

In this video clip, Larry Spada, who is the creative director and brand strategist with Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Richmond, VA, and resident of Charlotte NC, discusses the details of his “in progress” outdoor lighting installation at his charming home.

This installation entails replacement of his existing fixtures with two(2) decorative Attraction lights at well-appointed locations to enhance the front of the property. The project also includes the installation of three (3) Boca lights to aid in illuminating the planted areas around the front perimeter of the home and along the driveway to enliven a beautiful, mature crepe myrtle tree!

Attraction Lights’ LED illuminated sculptural fixtures become focal points when used in conjunction with traditional Outdoor Lighting Perspectives fixtures and together they add distinctive new dimensions within your landscape and garden. This artistic lighting exhilarates the senses and evokes ambiance. Stay tuned for a look at the completed installation taking place at this charming Charlotte residence….

In a gallery setting, the lighting of artwork is crucial to supporting the meaning of the artwork. Soft lighting illuminates the image or sculpture for subtle consideration, while strong lighting creates strong highlights and shadows to enhance the physical form of the object. In the outdoor lighting industry, your home and its surrounding property are the physical forms of the object for which the outdoor lighting design, a.k.a. artwork, of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte enhances…meaning essentially, our artwork enhances your most beloved work of art, your home and property, highlighting its meaning and value to you.

Considered artists of light and shadow, we create custom lighting designs (our artwork), that are a combination of soft ambient lighting and task lighting which heightens the textures, architectural elements and colors of your home; increases the functionality and safety of areas and structures on your property; and adds complexity and depth to your garden and landscape. We are currently creating just such artwork for a client in the Queen City with traditional Outdoor Lighting Perspectives fixtures and the addition of Attraction Lights’ artistic sculptural lighting in 4×4 bollard light fixtures.

Attraction Lights Cluster Spire Detail.

Attraction Lights is Lyle Braud’s company which came about after he spent many years creating artistic garden lighting layouts and beautifully tailored landscape light designs for his landscape design build company. For more than 12 years now, he has focused his artistic energies on the sculptural designing of distinctive lighting fixtures which provide excellent LED lighting and can stand alone as incredible works of art. With geometric, abstract, or nature-like designs, their shadow pattern lighting adds drama and beauty to any area in which they are installed, while helping to direct the eye through the landscape.

Attraction Lights 4×4 Circle Cross Series.

Although the majority of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte’s lighting designs are created with the core idea of “focus on the effect, not the fixture”, some require a bit more. There is certainly a time and place where it is quite apropos to incorporate a lighting fixture which “has a strong, sculptural presence during the day, and are a beautiful, glowing presence at night,” as these marvelous illuminations are described by Randall Whitehead, nationally known lighting designer, author, and speaker. We absolutely agree and feel that these wonderful, artistic illuminated elements are as intriguing as they are captivating. They can be used as a stunning work of art in your landscape, or as a conversation starting centerpiece or focal point in your garden.

Pathway lighting with a twist.

These pagoda-like pathway lights, driveway lights, bollards, area lights, or garden sculptures come in a variety of materials, sizes and pattern styles formed within the metal housing which cast a distinct light and shadow pattern on the surfaces surrounding the light fixture. The interplay between object and shadow is enchanting, almost supernatural. Unique features include a light source hidden inside the cap of the fixtures (this prevents the glare typically associated with a traditional pagoda light and many of the bollards available today), inserts made of art glass and acrylic as well as those made of traditional clear glass, signature design elements and the ability to integrate custom graphics and fixture design for a distinguished outdoor lighting design.

Ken Brantly, Owner Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Charlotte.

Attraction Lights’ LED illuminated sculptural fixtures become focal points when used in conjunction with traditional Outdoor Lighting Perspectives fixtures and together they add distinctive new dimensions within your landscape and garden. This artistic lighting enlivens the senses and evokes ambiance.